Helen Maria Isherwood passed away July 16, 2026, at her home in Transcona, while in the care of her son, David, and daughter Jamie. She for many years had said she wanted to go home to her mother and father, brothers, and sister. For her, her husband Fred was always with her, just in another room. She has finally gone home to her family, sadly leaving one behind for now.

Helen was born in Pre St. Marie, Saskatchewan to Martin and Maria (Bochynska) Janczyn, who homesteaded there in 1914 after emigrating from Poland. She was predeceased by her mother and father, six brothers (Joseph, Stanley, Anthony, Frank, Michael, and William), one sister (Tina) and her husband Fred. She is survived, by her sons Mark (Marianne) and David and her daughter Jamie. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces. She was however exceptionally close to Paul Moroz and Elsie Snider and also had a deep abiding love for Julie, Janice, and Joyce, who grew up close by.

Helen, leaving home at a very young age, moved to Portage La Prairie to work on her Uncle Nick’s farm. From there she moved to Winnipeg to work as a maid in the Lieutenant Governor’s Mansion. She then joined a magazine crew, selling magazine subscriptions across Canada and The United States. In Chicago in a small club, she got to see Louis Armstrong perform live. It was working on the crews that she met and became friends with Gladys Balsillie, who would become a Winnipeg institution as the owner of the Swinging Gate and famously run an after-hours hangout in her home for visiting jazz musicians and late-night revelers. At one such gathering she would recount how Della Reese sang “When the Saints Go Marching in” for her.

She met her husband Fred at Perth’s, where they both worked. They fell in love and began to make a life together in a small home on Harbison in Elmwood. She also worked with Molly Schledewitz, Fred’s aunt, and surrogate grandmother to their children, a woman she deeply respected and loved.

They would soon move to Transcona with their two young sons, a daughter arriving soon after. She would reside there for 67 years, passing away with her family at her side.

We would like to thank Winnipeg Home Care and the Palliative Care program for all that they did for us and our mother. We are forever grateful to all her home care assistants and nurses.

A viewing will be held Wednesday July 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 at Cropo’s at1800 Day Street. A graveside service, presided by Pastor Harold Borchardt, will follow on July 23 at 10:00 a.m. at Transcona Cemetery, 5014 Dugald Rd. Winnipeg, Manitoba. The procession will leave from Cropo’s Funeral Home, 1800 Day Street. Following the service, a lunch is available at The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd at 401 Kildare Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING-MANITOBA INC